Chatsworth Bridge in Derbyshire, Engeland 1861

W.H. Bacon created this stereoscopic image of Chatsworth Bridge in Derbyshire, England, using photography. During this period, landscape photography often served to reinforce notions of national identity and pride, particularly within the context of the British Empire. These romanticized depictions of the English countryside often glossed over the social realities of the time. The pastoral scenes rarely, if ever, included the working class who maintained them. Looking closely, we see a person positioned beneath the bridge, fishing. This figure represents the working class who are often omitted from the broader narrative. The lone figure evokes a sense of solitude and perhaps even alienation. This provides a more complex understanding of British identity during the Victorian era. It asks us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being left out.